Turning Blue

by Kenny Kerner

It was about five years ago that Scott Macomber made a conscious decision to pursue songwriting and his career on a serious note. Scott's talents and technical expertise made it possible for him to play a variety of instruments and then record himself. So, there was never really an existing, viable band to play live and check out audience reactions to his material. Quite a predicament for a songwriter!

"I've been in original bands all my life--since high school, in fact, but nothing ever interested me," he revealed. Then, about five years ago, Scott began writing seriously and simultaneously, started to record his own material. That seemed to open up new vistas for the talented musician. "When I send material out to TAXI, I send a band photo, but the truth is that I play all the instruments and record my own stuff. I do everything on my own."

Years ago, when Macomber performed with his local cover band, he began saving money. The savings continued to grow (Scott adding money from his day job) and eventually, he was able to piece together a recording studio which now pays its own way. "I moved out of my own house into an apartment and now use the house as my home studio. Originally, I set it up just to record my own material but other people just called to record there so it's a nice added income for me. There are even a few TAXI members who record there."

i			i
	Name:	Scott Macomber
	Residence:	Providence, RI
	Age:	22
	Occupation:	Recording Studio Owner
	Joined TAXI:	February, 1998
	Songs Forwarded:	15
	Deals/Contracts:	2

Scott first heard about the virtues of TAXI a few years ago when a friend told him about the independent A&R company. Scott was in an original music band thinking that his music was ëin' "At the time I thought that what we were playing was current but in retrospect, it was outdated. We were going to join TAXI back then but didn't. I left the band and started doing my own thing. Realizing that I wasn't getting any exposure because I had no band and wasn't playing out, I thought TAXI would help me get my music out for me. The only people who ever heard my music were friends and family. This was a chance for other people to hear my music."

The promise of objective critiques of his music and the possibility of making connections made Scott a bit skeptical at first. "I never heard of anyone doing this so I was skeptical. They were taking money for it and I had to check them out. I can't tell you how many people I've turned on to TAXI since I joined. It's the best money investment I ever made for my career."

During his year and half as a member, Scott's material has been forwarded about 15 times, but it is the critiques that he receives from TAXIs talented A&R Screeners that really help him grow as a writer. "I keep every single critique that I get. Sometimes, they're more valuable than getting forwarded. They usually tell you why it was returned and those tips help make your songs better. Because I have my own studio I can always go back in and change things."

To date, Macomber has negotiated two deals through his membership in TAXI--one from Rich Dickerson at Boy-Girl Music (for "Me vs. The World" being used in the movie Deal of a Lifetime) , and the second song, "Let Down" which Bruce Duff placed on a CD for Triple XXX Records. Not bad for someone who had absolutely no industry connections last year! "Now, there are at least two industry professionals that I can call directly. Not only will they know who I am and take my calls, but they ask for more music and listen to it when it arrives. I could never have done this before; I could never have done this without TAXI."

With regard to advice for those determined to get into the music business, Scott is quick to shout the praises of TAXI: "Joining TAXI would be the first thing I'd tell everyone to do. When your songs are where you think they should be, send them in and start from there. They'll guide you with the critiques. You've got to be able to take criticism--even this early in your career. Because the more popular you get, the more your music is likely to be criticized."

Taking the good with the bad is something Scott Macomber learned early on in his budding career. But since becoming a TAXI member, he's turned the bad into learning experiences and the good into career deals. That's how you do business!